Where can you pick berries and mushrooms in Sälen?

Picking berries in the mountains is one of the few holiday activities that is free, healthy and almost always a success – and Sälenfjällen is rich in both berries and mushrooms. Blueberry bushes carpet the forest floor, lingonberries grow thickly on clear-cut areas, and the marshes hide cloudberries for those who know where to look. This guide takes you through the season, where the different species grow and what the right of public access actually permits. If you’re planning a week-long foraging trip, this is a Cottage to rent in Sälen during the berry season Having a proper kitchen is half the battle – the harvest needs to be sorted, cooked and frozen that very evening.

The berry-picking weeks coincide with the most beautiful time of year in the mountains. If you’d like to read more about the season as a whole, you’ll find a description on our page about autumn in Sälen – here we focus on the picking itself.

Short answer: you can pick berries almost anywhere in the mountains

In Sweden, you are allowed to pick wild berries, mushrooms and flowers on other people’s land without asking for permission. This applies in the forest, in the mountains and along footpaths – but not on private land, not in planted areas and not where specific rules apply, such as in certain nature reserves and national parks. In practical terms, this means that virtually the entire forest and mountain landscape around Sälen is open for picking, as long as you stay away from farms and private plots. The basic rule is the classic one: do not disturb, do not destroy. We go through the rules in more detail in the guide on what the right of public access permits, and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has produced a comprehensive guide which is well worth reading before you set off.

The berry season, month by month

The season in the mountains is later than in southern Sweden, as both altitude and latitude delay ripening. Broadly speaking, cloudberries ripen first, often in late summer, followed by blueberries and, lastly, lingonberries, which last well into autumn and improve after the first night of frost. Mushrooms appear when soil moisture and warmth combine, which in practice means late summer to early autumn, with considerable variation from year to year. It is impossible to promise exact weeks – a cold, late spring delays everything, whilst a warm early summer brings the season forward. The best advice is to aim for the period from August to September and to ask someone local when you arrive; those who live here always know how the season is shaping up that year.

Cloudberries – the gold of the bogs and the unwritten rules

Cloudberries are the most sought-after berries in the mountains and the hardest to find. They grow in marshy ground – preferably open and wet – and they are capricious: one year a marsh might be full of them, and the next completely empty, as the flowering is sensitive to frost in early summer. Venturing out onto the marsh requires wellies and patience, and mosquitoes are usually there to keep you company. There is also a strong local culture surrounding cloudberries: cloudberry marshes are not something you boast about or point out to strangers. Please respect this. And bear in mind that specific rules may apply – in certain areas of northern Sweden, picking cloudberries on someone else’s land is regulated, and in protected areas, picking may be restricted. Always check the regulations for the area with the county administrative board if you are unsure.

Blueberries, lingonberries and crowberries along the trails

Blueberries are the berries you’ll come across without even looking for them. Blueberries dominate the forest floor in spruce and birch woods throughout the area, and half an hour’s walk along a hiking trail is often enough to gather a day’s supply. They’re usually best found in semi-shaded, mature woodland rather than on open clearings. Lingonberries, on the other hand, thrive where it’s drier and lighter – on clearings, in pine forests and along the edges of paths – and they remain long after the blueberries have disappeared. Crowberries cover large areas of the bare mountain; they have a mild flavour but are excellent in cordials and juices. Above the tree line, you’ll also find cloudberries, and in damp areas, occasionally field berries. A simple foraging trip can therefore be combined with a regular hike without any extra planning – just bring a container.

Mushrooms in the mountain forest – what grows where

Forests near the mountains are prime mushroom-picking grounds, and the pressure from pickers is considerably lower than in southern Sweden. The coniferous forests are home to the classics – boletes, chanterelles where the environment is suitable, and various types of russula – whilst the birch forests have their own distinctive species. The basic rule is uncompromising: never pick a mushroom you cannot identify with certainty. Bring an up-to-date mushroom guide, compare each find, and it’s better to discard a mushroom you’re unsure about than to take the risk. If you’re a beginner, a guided mushroom walk or a local mushroom expert is the quickest way to learn. Carefully cut or twist the mushroom free so that the mycelium remains undisturbed, and place your finds in a basket rather than a plastic bag – they’ll keep better and the spores will spread as you walk.

Practical matters: crockery, cleaning and cooking at the cottage

Bring more containers than you think you’ll need – buckets with lids, baskets and something to carry them in. A berry picker is ideal for lingonberries and blueberries, but should be used carefully so as not to damage the bushes. Dress for the marshes and mosquitoes: wellies, long trousers and mosquito repellent during the summer months. Once back at the cottage, it’s the sorting that takes time, so allow one evening for every full day’s picking. A spacious kitchen with good work surfaces, a freezer and, ideally, a saucepan big enough to hold a batch of cordial is therefore more important than on a normal week in the mountains. If you want to take it a step further, you can book a a private chef who cooks using local produce – Having the day’s catch on your plate that very evening is an experience in itself.

Summary – how to pick berries in the mountains

The most important things to know about picking berries in the mountains around Sälen:

• The right of public access allows people to pick wild berries and mushrooms – but not on private land or in areas where specific rules apply.
• Aim for August–September; the exact weeks vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed in advance.
• Cloudberries in bogs, blueberries in shady woodland, lingonberries on drier, sunnier ground, crowberries on the bare mountain.
• Never pick a mushroom that you haven’t identified with certainty – take a guidebook with you or go on a guided tour.
• Pack your boots, mosquito repellent and more containers than you think you’ll need.
• Book accommodation with a kitchen suitable for cleaning, cooking and freezing.

The berry-picking weeks are among the best of the mountain season – and the difference between a pleasant walk and a full freezer almost always comes down to choosing the right week and bringing an extra container along.